For the Within Reach Design Challenge, we teamed up with eNABLE, MatterHackers, and Ultimaker to challenge the 3D community to create assistive tools to help those with limited use of their hands. We were blown away by the thought and creativity that went into the design submissions we received in both the under and over 18 category.

Thank-you to our judges who had the difficult task of picking just three designs in each category. Before we announce the winners, here are a few of our honourable mentions.

We loved this idea because it’s simple but very effective and relevant to just about everyone who might have limited use of their hands. Jonathan made four different versions so you can pick your food of choice!

Over 18 Category:

This is a simple but effective design that you can print to attach to a twisting tap in the house. It allows you to open and close the tap by pressing on it with your fist instead of using your fingers.

Chiaoling designed this tray to allow people to move dishes (or just about anything) without gripping it with their hands. It’s useful for both amputees and those who have only a mild limitation. We loved seeing the evolution of the design as it went through its various iterations.

Under 18 Winners!

3rd Place:

This design is great because it doesn’t require any straps or complicated mechanisms to use – they are designed to easily pop on and off. MatterHackers printed these out for Brady and she found them helpful. Congratulations! You’ve won $50 MatterHackers credit!

2nd Place:

This design is simple (prints in under 10 minutes!), discreet and very practical. Amy contributed a few designs to the contest but this was the one the judges were especially impressed with. Congratulations! You’ve won a Crafty Pen and $100 MatterHackers Credit.

1st Place:

This tool would be very useful for anything from hanging pictures to using a credit card in an ATM machine. It was designed by two students (Grade 7 and Grade 9) that were inspired by their teacher who has an amputated thumb. Congratulations! You’ve won an Ultimaker 2+, a T10 3D Printer Controller and 3 spools of MatterHackers Pro PLA!

Over 18 Winners!

3rd Place:

Björn designed this tool for people like his Mom who can only use one hand do to things like mopping and sweeping. It’s designed to take a bit of pressure off the arm. Brandy also said this would be helpful for her to learn paddle boarding! Congratulations, you win a $50 MatterHackers credit!

2nd Place:

This tool was designed to be compatible with a number of different containers. It also has a point on the other side that helps open plastic seals which is a great addition. Congratulations! You win a Crafty Pen and $100 MatterHackers Credit

Thank-you to everyone who entered the contest. Your designs are inspiring and will continue to help make life easier for those with limited use of their hands. A special thanks to our sponsors, MatterHackers and Ultimaker for providing prizes and to our special partner eNABLE for bringing this amazing community together.